On a budget
A trip to London need not cost the earth. If you are travelling from overseas - make the most of the good exchange rates and treat yourself to some extra shopping.
If you are looking to find good value for money accommodation close to central London or you are having friends and relatives to visit, this page will give you all the insider tips you need to enjoy your time in London without breaking the bank.
TRAVELLING FROM HEATHROW
If you are travelling from Heathrow Airport and are not carrying too much luggage, jump on the 140 bus which will take you to Harrow town centre in one hour for the bargain price of £2.00 or 90p if you have an Oyster card!
TRAVELLING FROM STANSTED
Terravision offers a regular coach service from Stansted to London Victoria and Liverpool Street for the bargain price of £13.00 return. This is a saving of £23.00 on the cost of train travel. Liverpool Street is on the Metropolitan Line and provides a direct tube link to Harrow.
VALUE FOR MONEY ACCOMMODATION
Harrow has an excellent range of value for money accommodation including town centre hotels which offer FREE parking and homely B&B's where you'll find all your home comforts at competitive rates. Students and young people under 26 can find even cheaper accommodation at Westminster University Halls of Residence .
CHEAP EATS
As an ethnically diverse borough, Harrow offers a fantastic range of great, international restaurants from Afghan cuisine through to belting Baltis. Here is a sample to whet your appetite for more!
Masa
24-26 Headstone Drive,
HA3 5QH
0871 971 4166
Tube: Harrow and Wealdstone
Authentic Afghan cuisine at very good prices,
Runner up in Time Out Cheap Eats awards 2006
Meeting Palace
34 High Street
Wealdstone, HA3 7AB
Tube: Harrow and Wealdstone
Authentic Sri Lankan and South Indian cuisine.
Starters from £2.00 and main courses from £5.00
(3 course fixed price lunch menu available for £4.00)
Website: http://www.meetingpalace.co.uk/
Harrow Healthy Living Centre
The Wealdstone Centre
38-40 High Street
Harrow HA3 7AE
Tube: Harrow and Wealdstone
The Centre provides information on healthy living, diet, courses and classes in fitness, complementary therapies such as massage and reflexology. Healthy, nutritious snack food for less!
Website: http://www.harrowhlc.org.uk/
Free guided tours
Discover some of Harrow's hidden gems with free tours of our heritage sites. Discover the stunning continental baroque interior ofSt Lawrence Church where free guided tours take place on Sundays between 2-5pm in summer and 2-4pm in winter.
Close by in Stanmore, St John the Evangelist Church offers two great historic sites - the red brick ruin dating from 1632 and the Kentish Rag and Bath Stone building. The ruined church is open to the public on Saturdays between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
Alternatively discover Harrow's famous Hill with a free audio guided commentary -and walking map which lasts for approximately 60 minutes and provides an excellent potted history of the area.
Blow away the cobwebs on a circular walk around the Bentley Priory Nature Reserve which takes you through some of the boroughs most interesting areas.
Discover Harrow's most famous filming locations and explore further afield with the West London Movie Map.
BUDGET SHOPPING
Bargain hunters will delight in Harrow Town Centre's range of high street shops. Head to theSt Ann's Shopping Centre where you'll find clothes bargains galore in Primark, located opposite Harrow on the Hill tube station.
Alternatively why not try Harrow's other bargain mecca, TK Maxx which is situated in the St George's Shopping Centre, Harrow town centre.
BUDGET ENTERTAINMENT
Orange mobile phone users can make use of the 2 for 1 Orange Wednesday promotion which can be used in Harrow town centre's Vue Cinema.
Alternatively take in a Bollywood blockbuster for under a fiver at Harrow's dedicates Asian cinema.